[omni-scientist]

I agree with your characterization of the Dem party, but from a slightly different perspective. Going back in history, around the time of FDR through JFK, Democrats had a reasoned belief in their center-left positions as to what the populace wanted.

They were strong on defense, supported unions, supportive Social Security, and held to traditional values. LBJ deviated when he instituted "Great Society" programs to cynically buy-off minorities (remember, Republicans prior to that had strong support among blacks), and in the process began the destruction of the black family while racking up growing budget deficits. Another price to be paid was the counter movement in the Southern states giving more strength to Republicans.

In the meantime, the Republican party has over the decades co-opted some of the original Democrat values: belief in a strong military, traditional family values including respect for religious freedom, and fiscal responsibility. Add to this putting a stop to illegal immigration, promotion of capitalism and personal freedom as a core governing social structure. Foreign policy need not be part of this because most people vote on domestic issues anyway, and both parties have traded positions back and forth over the years.

Now where does that leave the Democrats? The only way out of the corner they find themselves in is the negative - to take the position that is opposite whatever the Republican party supports. And believe it or not that works to some degree. There are those people (yes, even adults) who are always looking for a contradictory argument to take up, like perpetual teenagers who think they know more than their parents.

So we do now have a coalition of Democrats among the weird with often conflicting beliefs. You have summarized those succinctly, so I need not repeat them. But the point is they are playing a losing hand. Their minorities are either small or fragmenting. And worse, they are becoming violent and the public has no taste for that. We will see how this shakes out in the next few years, but I believe when it does, the Democrat party will no longer be what it is now or if it even exists by that name.

[zeestephen]

Re: "In the meantime, the Republican Party has over the decades co-opted some of the original Democrat values: belief in a strong military, traditional family values including respect for religious freedom, and fiscal responsibility."

That is delusional.

When did the Republican Party NOT believe in a strong military, NOT believe in traditional family values and religious freedom, and NOT believe in fiscal responsibility?

[Red6]

Unless they get some Democrat version of a Ronald Reagan who re-defines that party, I see them as you, on a one way dead end road.

I think Trump did an excellent job in tapping into the counter movement.

[ConservativeMind]

In the meantime, the Republican party has over the decades co-opted some of the original Democrat values: belief in a strong military, traditional family values including respect for religious freedom, and fiscal responsibility.

The most stupid comment of the week award, there.